The Flamenco Search Interface Project

Search Interfaces that Flow

The Flamenco search interface framework has the primary design goal of
allowing users to move through large information spaces in a flexible manner
without feeling lost. A key property of the interface is the explicit exposure
of category metadata, to guide the user toward possible choices, and to organize
the results of keyword searches. The interface uses hierarchical faceted
metadata in a manner that allows users to both refine and expand the current
query, while maintaining a consistent representation of the collection's
structure. This use of metadata is integrated with free-text search, allowing
the user to follow links, then add search terms, then follow more links, without
interrupting the interaction flow.

FLAMENCO stands for FLexible information Access using MEtadata in
Novel COmbinations. This research is supported by a CAREER grant
awarded to Prof. Marti Hearst
from the
National Science Foundation,
NSF IIS-9984741.